Standout luxury watches at the SIHH 2016 | The Jewellery Editor

Mechanical marvels at the SIHH

From the new Cartier men’s watch to a marvel of mechanical ingenuity, these timekeepers made an indelible mark.

04 February 2016

The SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva is the place to be if you want to gain an understanding of the latest trends in luxury watches.

Luxury watches and timekeepers are all about superior mechanics and, however archaic this may seem, even in our digital age these mechanical creations still have the power to amaze us. Here is my selection of the top three mechanical wonders that confirm the enduring appeal of traditional watchmaking.

The Drive de Cartier is a brand new family of Cartier watches that manages to balance innovation yet retain the very soul of Cartier.

The Drive de Cartier is one of the most elegant watches I saw at the SIHH, confirming that if you want the ultimate in luxury, it doesn’t get much better than a beautiful mechanical watch. The Drive de Cartier is a brand new family of Cartier watches that manages to balance innovation yet retain the very soul of Cartier, which is precisely what keeps the spirit of the Maison alive.

Shop the Drive de Cartier watch

With more contemporary looks, the H. Moser & Cie Swiss Alp timepiece looks like a smartwatch thanks to its minimalist lines, but it has a traditional mechanical heart. This clever design reminds us that traditional watchmaking still has a place on our wrist and, unlike smartwatches, this particular model requires no upgrade other than the occasional new strap, neatly summing the argument of craftsmanship versus disposable technology.

Shop the H Moser & Cie Swiss Alp watch

Parmigiani Hippologia table clock, created by master watchmaker Michel Parmigiani in association with Lalique (POA).

But no round-up of the Geneva watch show would be complete without including the incredible Hippologia automaton clock by Parmigiani Fleurier. Created by master watchmaker and restorer Michel Parmigiani in association with French glassmaker Lalique, the wind-up mechanism powers a mare and her foal to gallop around the clock, as 2,200 components, all created and put together by hand, work in perfect synchronicity.

Shop the Parmigiani Fleurier Hippologia clock

So, while the rest of the world looks forward to the next piece of disposable technology, a little corner of Europe called Switzerland looks to the past to find new ways to delight us.

Read about the best men's watches at the SIHH 2016

The Drive de Cartier is a brand new family of Cartier watches that manages to balance innovation yet retain the very soul of Cartier.
The H Moser Swiss Alp, which looks like a smartwatch, reminds us that traditional watches still have a place on our wrist (£18,500).
The mechanical heart of this otherwise modern-looking H Moser Swiss Alp watch can be seen through the panel on the back (£18,500).
Parmigiani Hippologia table clock, created by master watchmaker Michel Parmigiani in association with Lalique (POA).
The wind-up mechanism on the Parmigiani Fleurier Hippologia powers a mare and her foal, with all components in perfect synchronicity.
The Drive de Cartier watch features a tourbillon complication crowned with the letter 'C'. (£14,100).